Whitehouse Weekly Bulletin

Friday 9th January 2026

A Message from Miss Siddall: 

Happy New Year and welcome back. We hope that you and your families enjoyed a restful and enjoyable Christmas break. The spring term has begun positively, with the children returning to school settled, enthusiastic and ready to learn.  As you may know, 2026 is the year of reading and we will be enjoying taking part in many of the initiatives to help your children to develop a love of reading.  The children have already begun their new enquiry questions this term, and further details about learning in each year group can be found in the newsletters, enquiry homework menus and curriculum overviews. We look forward to welcoming you into school later this term to celebrate the children’s learning at our project showcase events.

Attendance for the previous week:

Classes with the best attendance: Hedgehogs (97.7%)

Assemblies

The theme of our assemblies this week was Winter Water Safety: What to do in an emergency.  (UNRC: Article 6: I have a right to life).  Maybe this would be a good week to check on the elderly neighbours you may have to ensure they are keeping warm and safe and have everything they need as the weather has been so cold. 

Children’s Book Newsletter

To celebrate 2026, The National Year of Reading, Authorfy has launched ‘Backdrop’, a fabulous free, half-termly children’s digital newsletter.  It has been created in partnership with UK children’s publishers and the Open University’s Reading for Pleasure Team and is presented in a colourful, child-friendly design.  Printed copies are available for reading in our libraries, however parents/carers can also register to receive their own personal free copy by visiting https://authorfy.com/bookdrop-newsletter/.

In addition to this, Authorfy have granted free access to their amazing award-winning online platform for the whole of 2026.  The platform is well worth a visit and includes author videos, book extracts and downloadable resources all aimed at boosting reading for pleasure over this year.  For further information please visit: https://authorfy.com/.

Dogs on Site

A reminder that dogs are not to be brought onto the school site at any time, unless they are a registered guide dog and using their official harness. Please note this does include standing just inside the school gates.  This to ensure the safety of all on site.  We thank you for your co-operation.

Awards

As you may be aware, the children are encouraged to follow ‘The Whitehouse Way’ in school to help them in their learning and in becoming good citizens. Our ‘Wonderful Week’ awards this year will be given as a recognition that the children have worked very hard in one of these areas:  Courage, Perseverance, Reflection or Responsibility.  This will be shown in the colour coded lists below. We are so proud of our children at Whitehouse and their wonderful achievements.  Well done to you all.

EYFS:

Key Stage 1:

Lower Key Stage 2:

Upper Key Stage 2:

First Aid / Administration of Medications

We are pleased to inform you that starting next week we will be moving to a new online system, Medical Tracker, to record any first aid incidents and medications given in school.  Please be aware that should your child be given medication in school, including an inhaler, that the email informing you of this will now come from the following email address instead of Arbor: noreply@medicaltracker.co.uk.  This will inform you the medication given, dosage and timings so you are aware.  We hope you will find this to be of assistance.

Attendance: Duck Race Winners

Well done to the winners of our Duck Races last week:

Accelerated Reader

A big well done to all the children below who have recently received certificates for their reading.  

Dates for the Diary

Monday 19^th January 2026 – Year 3 DT Parent/Carer Session – 2.15pm

Thursday 22^nd January 2026 – Year 6 Mummification Parent/Carer Session – 9.05am

Tuesday 10^th February 2026 – Spring 1 Project Showcase – Years Nursery, 1, 3 and 5

Thursday 12^th February 2026 – Spring 1 Project Showcase – Years Reception, 2, 4 and 6

Monday 16^th February 2026 to Friday 20^th February 2026 – Half Term Holiday

Friday 27^th March 2026 – Last day in school before Easter

Monday 30^th March 2026 to Friday 10^th April 2026 – Easter Holiday

Monday 25^th May 2026 to Friday 29^th May 2026 – Half Term Holiday

Friday 22^nd May 2026 – PD Day (School closed to Children)

Monday 22^nd June to Tuesday 23^rd June 2026 – Year 6 Residential Trip to Mersea